Same-sex marriage a non-issue for the U.S. Senate race?

While it’s no surprise the two leading Democrats running for an open U.S. Senate seat are in sync with President Barack Obama’s supportive stance on same-sex marriage, experts say the role of the much-debated social issue will be considerably smaller in the statewide race.

Both Sean Hubbard, of Dallas, and former state Rep. Paul Sadler say they support “marriage equality” and that it is discriminatory to not allow same-sex couples to marry. Each of the candidates, like Obama, says they have come to support gay marriage through knowing gay friends and talking with others about the issue.

Sadler, 56, said his conclusion was also aided by speaking with ministers who reiterated the difference between state licensing and a church’s blessing.

Sean Hubbard

Hubbard, 30, said he is friends with two gay women who are raising two children. He said it is unfair to deny the two children and their mothers various legal rights that come with a marriage license such as life-support decisions and pension benefits.

Sadler, who co-sponsored the gay-inclusive Hate Crimes bill in 1999 and 2001, said since the state does not apply a religious test for marriage, it is “purely discriminatory” to forbid marriage based on sexual preference.

“Until you actually see a loving couple denied a benefit it does not become real to you,” Sadler said.

He said the state should offer marriage licensing for same sex couples and that religious institutions can choose whether or not to bless or honor the matrimony.

On the other side, each of the four leading GOP candidates has clearly stated his opposition to state-licensed same-sex marriages.

GOP candidate Craig James stirred controversy earlier in the year when he said homosexuality is a choice.

Sadler and Hubbard said they disagree with James.

“I think that in this day and age a person saying that gay is a choice shows a complete lack of understanding,” Sadler said of James’ comments.

“I don’t know why anyone would choose to be in a group that is discriminated against like the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community is,” Hubbard said. “I think you are born who you are.”

Both Sadler and Hubbard agreed the economy and job creation will be the focus of the election, but noted that same-sex marriage is an issue that needs to be openly discussed.

Mark Jones, chair of the Political Science department at Rice University, said gay marriage will not be a defining topic in the race because it is not a “winning issue in Texas.”

“The issue could impact the share of the vote but not the overall outcome,” Jones said. “The Republicans have the race locked up.”

According to a recent Texas Tribune poll, three in five Texas voters said gay and lesbian couples should be allowed some form of legal partner status, with 31 percent supporting marriage and 29 percent supporting civil unions but not marriage. One-third said neither should be allowed in Texas.

In the same poll, none of the 800 respondents said gay marriage is the most important issue facing Texas today.

Jones said same-sex marriage is split along a generational line. He said younger voters, including young conservatives, are more tolerant of gay couples because of exposure and education.

Jones cited a national Gallup poll that suggests the national trend of support for gay marriage has almost doubled since the Clinton administration.

In 1996, 27% of Americans supported gay marriage and now the number is 53%.